Plot Summary of OTHELLO

William Shakespeare

Othello, who has eloped with Desdemona, is accused of stealing her. Blinded by prejudice, Desdemona’s father cannot believe his daughter can love the Moor, a man of a different race. But Othello movingly defends his love and demonstrates the nobility of his character.
Iago is the treacherous comrade. Angered that Cassio has been appointed Othello’s lieutenant, a post Iago wanted, Iago plots his revenge. He warns Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona. Brilliantly manipulating Othello’s jealousy and rising anger, Iago has his wife Emilia, who is Desdemona’s serving maid, steal a handkerchief that Othello gave his bride at their wedding. Iago plants the handkerchief on Cassio. Convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity, Othello smothers his beloved wife in their marriage bed. Emilia then proves Iago’s guilt and Desdemona’s innocence to Othello. Othello stabs Iago, who is under arrest, but fails to kill him and commits suicide. The final catastrophe of the play—with Emilia’s revelation of Iago’s treachery, and Othello’s suicide in atonement for his criminal folly.
Source: Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation.
MOVIE CHECK

1. At the outset of the movie, the Duke announced that the Turks had fitted out a fleet which was bending its course to_______________.
A. Venice B. Cyprus
2. Desdemona, preferring the honor of her lord before the indulgence of idle delights, cheerfully____________.
A. consented Othello’s going to war B. warned Othello of the danger of war
3. Roderigo and Iago shouted to Brabantio “ Thieves! Theives!...Look to your house, ______________, and your bags!
A. your drawers B. your daughter
4. Brabantio,talking to the Duke of Venice said “ My daughter! My daughter! She is abused, _____________ from me, and corrupted.
A. stolen B. hidden
5. Othello, being asked by Duke “what, in your part, can say to this?” answered back by ___________
A. admitting he had taken Desdemona away
B. denying he had taken Desdemona away
6. Othello told Brabantio that Desdemona loved him for the dangers he had passed, and he loved her that she did pity them.
A. True B. False
7. The Duke asked Othello to prepare himself for Cyprus. Desdemona requested that she be allowed to go with him. The Duke_____________________.
A. denied the request B. granted the request
8. He said “Drown cats and blind puppies.”
A. Roderigo B. Iago
9. In the fight between Cassio and Montano, Othello was referred to ___________ to answer his query about the fight,
A. Desdemona B. Iago
10. Iago told Othello to observe well Desdemona with Cassio.
A. True B. False
11. In the confrontation of Othello and Iago, Othello said that he found not Cassio’s kisses in her lips. He called Iago a ___________, who needs to prove his love is a “whore.”
A. villain B. rouge
12. Challeging Iago, Othello told him “ Give me a living reason she’s disloyal”. He answered back “_______________”
A. I do not like the office. B. It’s all in your place.
13. The handkerchief Iago was telling Othello about was ___________________.
A. Othello’s first gift to Desdemona B. Cassio’s gift to Desdemona
14. Othello asked Desdemona to give him the handkerchief and Desdemona__________________.
A. gave it right away B. could not give it for it was lost
15. When Cassio entered the room, he saw Othello trembling with eyes rolling. According to Iago_______.
A. Othello fell into an epelipsy. B. Othello fainted due to dizziness
16. Othello saw ______________ asking Cassio about the handkerchief with Iago observing.
A. Desdemona B. Bianca
17. Othello asked Iago “How will I murder him(Cassio)?”
A. True B. False
18. Othello called Desdemona an “impudent strumpet!”
A. True B. False
19. Othello killed his wife, Desdemona, by ____________________.
A. stabbing her to death B. suffocating her with pillows
20. Othello, Desdemona and Iago were dead at the end of the story.
A. True B. False